This has been a busy and long day. I went to Olpe this morning to pick up the beef. I backed into the loading dock and then went in. An older man yelled at me to move my car as he was picking up his meat. OK dude, chill.
I moved my car and went in and paid for the processing then backed my car up to get loaded. Came home and sorted the beef into three equal piles.
My neighbor came over with a wagon and got her share. A friend showed up a bit later to get her share. I put the other third in my freezer and will deliver it to Nicole later.
I hadn’t sat down for long when the Detention Center called and said they had a person that needed transported. I quickly went to the gas station and filled my car up with gas and then went to the Center to pick him up. This is what I posted on my Facebook page:
I, Kay Krause, had the privilege and honor to transport another released ICE Detainee this afternoon. This one was a 22 year-old from Russia. He had been held at the Chase County, KS Detention Center for one month.
I didn’t get his story of why he was picked up. I took him to the Department of Homeland Security up by the airport to pick up his driver’s license, work permit, and VISA. I then took him to the airport where his brother was arranging a flight home to Chicago for him.
I picked him up a little after 2:00. The Department of Homeland Security office closes at 4:00. It is a two hour drive to get there from the Chase County Detention Center. My GPS showed me arriving at 4:07. I called the Lieutenant at the Center and asked her if she had a contact at the KC Office in case I couldn’t make it there by 4:00. She called me back and gave me a phone number of a lady that works there and her phone number. I was to call her if I didn’t make it by 4:00.
I drove like a mad woman and we got to the Department of Homeland Security office right at 4:00. Three armed security guards were coming out as we walked up to the door. I waited until they came out and then I was going to enter the building. The last one put his hand on his holster and told me to step back, the office was closed and to come back tomorrow. I stepped between him and the man I was transporting and said no problem. The guard made sure the door closed and was locked and then left.
I called the contact inside and she came out with the cards the immigrant needed. She was my angel that helped out today as without those cards, he would not have been able to fly home tonight.
I then took him over to the airport and dropped him off along with a phone charger and adapter. I have learned to keep my car stocked with chargers as the immigrants I transport rarely have a charger with them when they are picked up. I trust he was able to get a flight out tonight and reunite with his brother.
He did tell me his parents are old and sick and are still back in Russia. He was hoping to obtain some medication to send them as it is hard to get medication where they are in Russia right now.
What an honor it is to transport these released immigrants. This one is turning 23 on August 23rd. He was grateful to be able to be released before his birthday.
Please feel free to share this post. I feel it is important that their stories be told and shared.
It was a bit nerve racking to have the security guy approach me as he did. I am not used to that attitude. I was ever so grateful that the Lieutenant had given me a phone number of someone to call so he could get his ID tonight. Otherwise he would not have been able to fly home today.
I feel like I am making friends from all over the world without having to travel. Afghanistan, India, China, Palestine and now Russia. I wish I had contact information for all of them but I do not. I wish I could speak some foreign languages but how in the world would I know which one to learn. I find it interesting that so far none are from Mexico or Central or South America.
It is always a relief to know one more got released. So few do these days.
I will take some time this evening to feel all the feels and allow my body to process the day.
Tomorrow I am going out to lunch with a group of friends. I will need that! The timing is divine! Wednesday I have a doctor’s appointment and then I will have some empty space on my calendar.
What a day! I never know when a transport will come up and I am never given more than a moment’s notice. Grateful I had free time and could make it happen today.
Grateful the beef is in the house, grateful to be in service today, and grateful for an angel at the Department of Homeland Security that went out of her way to help us out today.